The Old Catholic Church

Karl Pruter, Presiding Bishop of the Christ Catholic Church and an acknowledged expert on the modern autocephalous churches, delineates the history of the Old Catholic Church in North America and provides the most straightforward account of the numerous offspring of this very active religious movement. Complete with Chronology, Notes, Bibliography, Index, and photographs.

Read about the best kept religious secret in America! Married clergy, decentralized administration, and Catholic liturgy and practice - in a non-papal and autocephalous Catholic Church.

The Old Catholic Church of the United States is a Catholic Family of Faith, based within the United States. As inheritors of Apostolic Succession from the Western Latin (Catholic) Church, the Ancient Oriental Churches and the Eastern Byzantine (Orthodox) Churches, we possess a rich theological heritage. We are a sacramental church, embracing the fullness of Christianity as expressed within Catholic understanding. We stand, holding fast to the teachings of the ancient faith, in a modern society that is often hostile, towards Christians in general and Catholics in particular, and choose to obey the timeless message of Christ rather than yield to the "Spirit of the Age". "I am very happy with the contents, and feel that yet again it is a wonderful work and look forward to having this in print to use here in the UK." - Most Rev. David Bowler, Provincial Ordinary of the United Kingdom. "As a comprehensive, detailed Old Catholic catechism, it is an indispensable aid to studying the faith." -Most Rev. Andre' Queen, Provincial Ordinary of the Western United States.

The doctoral dissertation of the Rt. Rev. Michael NeSmith, this text traces the history of the Old Catholic movement from its beginnings in Utrecht, Holland through its many struggles and growths to become what it is today. The specific focus is the history and beliefs of the Old Catholic Church of North America.

Old Catholic theology is the theology that is characteristic of the Old Catholic Churches of the Union of Utrecht. This contribution outlines the main characteristics of and influences on Old Catholic theology, and outlines the extant ecumenical relationships of the Old Catholic Churches.

Borrowing from a variety of historic church resources, A Short Catechism of the Old Catholic Church provides everything a parish priest needs to provide basic instruction in the faith. This is an excellent resource for teaching baptismal or confirmation classes.